September 15th, 2016 was a beautiful day for ribbon cutting. Mayor Warren's gold scissors did the trick. Many people in the neighborhood attended, along with elected officials and department staff of the city of Newton. Congratulations were handed out for the realization of the dream years in planning and execution. Represented in the attendees were also Newton Upper Falls community members who worked long and hard on this.. Nice (and short) speeches by all.

It's official. The official ribbon cutting ceremony for the Upper Falls Greenway has been scheduled for Thursday, September 15th from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. It is being held at the Depot Coffee Shoppe, 1225 Chestnut Street, Newton Upper Falls. A celebration of this new park area is tentatively scheduled for sometime in October.

"Crosspoint Associates, Inc. broke ground recently to mark the start of construction for its highly anticipated mixed-use development, Newton Nexus. Newton Nexus is located at 141-165 Needham Street, Newton, MA. The 143,000 SF development will include Boston Ski & Tennis, a neighborhood market, several restaurants, and a number of retailers including an outdoor/recreational retailer and an upscale fashion retailer. Newton Nexus is 75% leased and expects to be fully occupied within the next 12 months"

Some people who regularly use the Greenway may have been used to crossing over into the parking lot next to the Avalon to reach Needham Street. This access point (always unofficial) has been closed during the Crosspoint renovation and construction of Newton Nexus. We are talking to both the Avalon and Crosspoint to see if an additional access point can be opened up during the construction. Other crossover points do exist: Easy Street, Tower Road and the "spur" to Needham Street.

The home page for NewtonServes is http://www.newtoncommunitypride.org/NewtonSERVES.html. More information can be found there about general information for NewtonServes. Most of the work on the Greenway will include basic cleanup of the path and the surrounding areas. Bring gloves and limber backs and knees. Bags for the disposal of what is picked up will be provided at the meeting site, Depot Cafe at Oak and Chestnut.

From Jerry Reilly: ...We'll be having a meeting of the Friends of the Upper Falls Greenway at the Emerson Center next Thursday, Feb 11, 7 PM. Everyone's welcome. Bring your ideas, questions, dreams, and thoughts. Possible topics for the meeting include: spring cleanup, plans for grand opening, future events on the Greenway, plantings, benches/signs/kiosks, public art, installing the restored railroad switches, finishing the deck on the river and anything else you'd like to add to the agenda.

margaret alexandermargaretalexander@me.comupperfallsgreenwayimagineoursurprise1http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/upperfallsgreenway/29004858475167624622015-12-19T00:45:11.803Z2015-12-19T00:45:48.007Z2015-12-19T00:45:46.335ZMore progress on the Greenway

During the first part of December 2015 the city made some good progress on preparing the surface of the greenway. There are still some spots that need additional work but it is a very pleasant place to walk now. Check out our Facebook page for additional notes and photos of the work.

In a message from Setti Warren, Mayor of Newton, we were informed on October 28, 2015 of the following about the progress on the Newton Upper Falls Greenway:

"My administration initiated this project because of its great potential resource with the ability to improve the transportation system by increasing cyclists’, walkers’, and others’ ability to move safely around the city and is committed the timeline of seeing its completion through this fall."

NewtonSERVES day is going to be Sunday, April 26th this year. We'll be doing trash cleanup and some limited brush and tree removal on the Greenway as necessary. Sign up online to register and reserve a free T shirt. Be sure to bring work gloves. Optional accessories: loppers, clipper, saw, wheel barrow.

margaret alexandermargaretalexander@me.comnewtonservescleanupdaysundayapril26th1http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/upperfallsgreenway/85419080640949809662014-12-13T23:06:39.392Z2015-04-02T17:27:00.709Z2015-04-02T17:26:59.479ZUpdate on the Greenway-December 2014

A recent article in the Newton Tab provided some additional information about why the Greenway project was delayed. The article "Newton's rail trail project delayed", is now posted on line.

As mentioned in the article:

"A spokesperson from the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy group, a national advocacy group based in Washington D.C., said that having an organization such as the well-known Iron Horse Preservation Society come in and do the job for the cost of the railroad ties has its benefits."

We look forward to the completion of the project by Iron Horse Preservation in 2015.

margaret alexandermargaretalexander@me.comupdateonthegreenway-december20144http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/upperfallsgreenway/78364757839374655522014-10-26T23:42:54.753Z2014-10-26T23:45:44.608Z2014-10-26T23:45:43.548ZProgress on the Greenway

In the last week additional work has been completed on the "Sunset Deck" which goes out over the Charles River at one end of the Greenway.

Railings and decking are finished allowing for wonderful views of the Charles River, particularly good at sunset, but pretty nice at other times of the day also.

We are looking forward to the completion of the construction phase of this project--the grading of the path and laying down and packing the stone dust. Once this is done, the City of Newton will be able to install the donated items from local businesses (benches, sign posts, etc.) that they have been holding in storage.

From its start in 1825 in a small village called Street in England, Clarks has grown into one of the world's largest shoe manufacturers. Their corporate office is at 156 Oak Street in Newton Upper Falls. Their donation to Iron Horse Preservation Society resulted in extending the bridge deck over the Charles to the full extent of the MBTA lease. The railing brackets are expected to arrive on Tuesday, with installation of the railings and fencing to follow soon thereafter.

Iron Horse is working to find a vendor who will accept the old railroad ties for disposal. Nine flatbed trucks of ties will be moved out within the next few weeks.

The decking on the Charles River bridge is done. There are custom brackets being fabricated to hold up the railings to match the ones on the bridge over the Charles in Lower Falls. Once these are available, the railings on the bridge will be installed, along with fencing running back from the bridge where the drop-off is steep.

The trail surface has five low wet spots that will receive gravel, then stone dust will be applied, graded, and compacted along the entire length. That will complete Iron Horse’s work, except for the Oak St crossing. When their equipment is removed, the signs, benches and kiosks that Newton Parks and Recreation ordered for the Greenway will be installed. At that point, the basic trail will be done, from the river to Easy St. and with a spur out to Needham St.

Several landlords whose property abuts the Greenway are working with the Upper Falls Greenway group. Their intent is to provide cleanup, plants and flowers on their property to further improve the appearance of the Greenway.

Iron Horse is scheduled to resume construction work the week of April 7, lasting approximately three weeks. During that time, they'll take up the remaining ties, haul away all the ties that are stacked up, flatten and compact the bed, and then lay down and compact stone dust along the entire length. We expect work to be completed sometime in May.

Iron Horse Preservation Society and Newton DPW worked together to pull the rails and ties out of the roadway at Oak St (between the Depot Café and Jean and Lee’s Kitchen) on July 9th. The road has been temporarily patched with asphalt. All of Oak St. is due to be repaved this fall.

The Greenway project began in late autumn but shut down for the winter once
the ground froze up. The Iron Horse crew’s been back on the job in
recent weeks and it’s all taking shape. The rails have all been
removed. Most of the railroad ties are gone and the crew will probably have the remaining ties near the river removed today or tomorrow.

Next up, is laying out a 90′ x 5′ vegetation border behind the
Biltmore restaurant. Once Iron Horse builds the frame, the Biltmore
will donate and plant the trees and shrubs and will be tend and care for
them.

After that, comes the “Sunset Deck” – where the trail ends at the
Charles River they’ll be building a wooden deck at a scenic spot out
over the river.

The final part of the project for Iron Horse is to grade the whole
trail and then lay down and roll the stone dust path. They say that’s
the easiest part. The stone dust trail will run from National Lumber to
the Charles River with a spur about halfway down that will lead out to
Needham Street

Meanwhile the city’s Parks & Rec Dept have ordered all the extras
– signs for Chestnut and Easy St featuring the lovely logo (above) that
local designer Heidi Werner donated, benches donated by Northland
Development, information kiosks donated by Trip Advisor. Once the
trail’s complete the city will install all the extras.

An anonymous donor has funded an effort to beautifully restore two of
the old railroad switches and Newton North student have been doing much
of the work over the last few months. Once they’re done the city will
install these pieces of local history back on the trail.

Lastly, the city is repaving Oak St this month I believe. As part of
that job they’ll take care of the Greenway’s Oak St crossing.

It’s all coming together nicely and a big honking Upper Falls party
is now being planned for (tentatively) Sunday, June 29 to celebrate the
official opening of the Upper Falls Greenway to the public.

Special shout-outs go to Frank Nicols, the city engineer who’s been
overseeing the whole project from the start and Carol Schein from Parks
& Rec who’s been taking care of myriad details throughout.

Jim Lerner has long been a film buff. A few months ago,
Jim decided that it was time to try getting behind the camera. He
signed up with NewTV, took a series of free classes to learn the
equipment and techniques. He's now shooting a documentary about the
Making of the Upper Falls Greenway. In recent weeks he's been doing
lots of filming - interviewing participants, filming the construction
details, capturing the groundbreaking, etc.

Last week we noticed
that there was one very important person in the Making of the Greenway
story that was not on Jim's interview list ... so we turned the camera
around and interviewed Jim too. Jim's been involved with the project from from the very start.

On Friday, the construction project was officially kicked off with pomp, circumstance and the lifting of the first rail ... and the final ride on the track. Read about it (and see it) here.

Jerry Reillyjerreilly123@gmail.comgroundbreakingcelebration2http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/upperfallsgreenway/38953863366472921112013-10-22T15:30:00.329Z2013-10-22T15:30:00.334Z2013-10-22T15:30:00.324ZGreenway official ground-breaking this Friday

On Friday Oct 25, at 1 PM, there will be a ceremonial ground-breaking for the Upper Falls Greenway
at Oak and Chestnut St, beside The Depot Coffee Shop. The mayor will be there, Richard Davey the
state's Secretary of Transportation, our local aldermen, Area
Councillors and various other dignitaries. Iron Horse Preservation will
also be there with their rail removal equipment. Once the formalities,
the handshakes, and the photos are dispensed with, the real fun will
begin.

The
Newton Bicycle Pedestrian Task Force (aka Newton Bike/Ped) are the ones
who first dreamed up the idea for the Upper Falls Greenway. The folks
at Newton Bike/Ped have contacted hobbyists that have self-propelled rail riding vehicles.
They're going to bring two of these rail-riders to Upper Falls for the
day and the public will be invited to take the final ride on this mile
of track just before it's torn up to make way for the Upper Falls
Greenway, our new mile long walking/jogging/biking trail and park. So
come on down and ride the rails and enjoy green tea on the Greenway, and
maybe a bowl of egg drop soup courtesy of Taam China II, Upper Falls'
neighborhood kosher Chinese restaurant.

By the way .... the graphic above is the
new official Upper Falls Greenway logo that will be used on all the
signs, etc. The logo was designed by Newton resident Heidi Werner. Heidi volunteered to design the logo for the recent Tour de Newton.
She did such a great job with that that we begged her to also design
the logo for the Greenway. Many thanks to Heidi for her pro bono, pro
Newton work. Now if you've got some paying graphics work and need a top
shelf graphic designer - Heidi Werner's your woman.

Jerry Reillyjerreilly123@gmail.comgreenwayofficialground-breakingthisfriday1http://sites.google.com/feeds/content/site/upperfallsgreenway/16638365920032214002013-10-22T15:27:55.247Z2013-10-22T15:27:55.265Z2013-10-22T15:27:55.242ZThe Making of the Greenway - a documentary

Jim Lerner, a local Upper Falls resident has been involved with the Greenway project from it's inception. Jim is a long time film/video buff but he has decided to become a video maker and create a documentary about the making of teh Upper Falls Greenway. He's working in conjunction with NewTV, Newton's cable channel. Over the past month, he's been interviewing various participants in the project and in the coming weeks he'll be filming much of the physical construction project.

Construction of the Upper Falls Greenway is scheduled to begin in mid October and should take roughly four weeks. Iron Horse Preervation will bring in heavy equipment, remove the track and ties, re-grade the path and then lay down a rolled stone dust surface which will be good for both walking and bicycles.

Another recent development is that the private property owner that owns the spur line that runs out to Needham Street has agreed to allow Iron Horse to pull up those rails. It's not 100% clear yet whether that will also be finished as a stone dust trail as part of the initial construction but its a very promising development for eventually connecting the Greenway to Needham St ... and maybe eventually to Christina. The next step is to file for Conservation Commission approval since the spur runs alongside a stream. That's currently in progress.